In the Torah portion of Noach we learn about the three sons of No’ach and some of their descendants.
Shem--Oldest, Youngest, or Middle Child?
Although Shem is listed first when the sons of No’ach are enumerated, according to several commentaries, he was the youngest of the three sons. He is listed first because of his outstanding qualities, specifically:
- He was the most righteous and wise.
- He was born circumcised (see below)
- And was considered to be the Kohen Gadol in whose portion of land (Jerusalem) the Beit HaMikdash would be built.
- In his merit G-d delayed the punishment of the generation of the Tower of Bavel for 340 years.
- He was the ancestor of Avraham Avinu and the Jewish people.
Some say that Shem was the oldest son while others say he was the middle son. Others say that Shem, Cham, and Yefet were triplets.
Here are some biographical facts about Shem:
Born Circumcised
Shem was one of 13 men born circumcised. This is derived from the verse that says “Malki Tzedek (another name for Shem) was the king of Shalem (Shalem means ‘complete’ or ‘perfect’).” Another source is the verse where Shem’s name is repeated (א ֵ֚ לֶּה תּוֹלְד ֹ֣ ת ש ֵׁ֔ ם ש ֵ֚ ם בֶּן־מְא ֹ֣ת שָׁנֵָׁׁ֔ה – These are the generations of Shem, Shem was 100 years old...”). The repetition is an indication that he was (beloved and was) born circumcised.
The other 12 men who were born circumcised were Adam, Seth, Chanoch, No’ach, Terach, Yaakov, Yosef, Moshe, Shmuel, David, Yeshayahu, and Yirmiyahu.
Torah Learning
Shem was constantly studying Torah. He received his Torah knowledge from his great-grandfather Chanoch who had studied under Seth who had received it from Adam HaRishon. In addition, he served his great-grandfather Methuselah (and learned from him) for 98 years.
One of Four Carpenters
In a prophecy about the Messianic times, Zechariah says, “Then G-d showed me four carpenters... these carpenters have come to throw them (the nations of the world) into a panic, to tear down the strength of the nations that raise their strength against the land of Judah.” According to the Talmud these four carpenters are:
- Moshiach ben David
- Moshiach ben Yosef (they will build the Third Beit HaMikdash)
- Eliyahu HaNavi (who built the altar on Mount Carmel)
- Malki Tzedek (another name for Shem, see above, who helped his father build the Ark).
It is noteworthy that some commentaries say that No’ach built the ark single-handedly without anyone’s assistance, which is why it took 120 years to complete.
It emerges that, in the future time, Shem will be one of the saviors of the Jewish people, who together with Moshiach and Elijah the Prophet, will subdue the enemies of the Jewish people.
Mastery over the Four Elements
Rabbi Jacob Ettlinger explains that each of the four “carpenters” has a unique power over one of the four basic elements. (Jewish philosophers count fire, wind, water, and earth as the four basic elements.) As such, they can counter the nations of the world who live in the four directions of the world, each of which is associated with one of these fundamental elements.
- Moshiach ben David, about whom it says “With the breath (wind) of his lips he kills the wicked,” has mastery over the wind.
- Moshiach ben Yosef from the tribe of Yosef has mastery over fire as the verse says, “The house of Joseph will be a flame.”
- Elijah, the prophet, has mastery over water as he decreed that no rain or dew should fall in order to subjugate the wicked people of his time.
- Shem has mastery over the earth. He received this quality from Avraham (although they did not meet until later in Shem’s life, see below) who would throw dust at his enemies which would turn into swords and arrows.
Forgot his Torah Learning
Some say that, due to the suffering they experienced in the ark, Shem (and his father) forgot the Torah they had learned beforehand. This is why G-d instructed them again regarding the seven Noahide Laws after the flood.
Others say that they did not forget their learning but that G-d reiterated the seven laws (although Noach and Shem knew the entire Torah) so that those who were not ready to keep the entire Torah would know what their minimum requirement was.
Became the Kohen Gadol
Noach was once late in feeding the lion and the lion attacked him and rendered him lame. As such he was not able to serve as the kohen when sacrificing the kosher animals after the flood. (A kohen with a blemish may not offer a sacrifice). His son Shem, who was considered a Kohen, sacrificed in his stead.
Shem was chosen to be the Kohen although he was younger than Yefet because he had separated himself from worldly matters and was constantly studying Torah.
Shem had received the special garments of the Kohen Gadol from his father Noach who received them from his grandfather Methuselah who had received them from Seth who got them from his father, Adam HaRishon. These were the garments that G-d Himself made for Adam and Eve after their sin.
Rebuked the Nations
The Midrash says, “When the nations of the world strayed from the path of G-d (by building the Tower of Bavel), G-d established two great fearless men who rebuked them. These were Shem and (his great-grandson) Ever.”
No Reason to Fear
The Midrash says that Shem was afraid that Avraham was upset at him because he had many wicked descendants (some of whom had sought to harm Avraham). And Avraham was afraid that Shem was upset with him for killing his descendants in the war of the four kings against the five). When they met each other after the battle, however, these fears proved unfounded. In fact, Shem (known as Malki Tzedek) gave Avraham several blessings while Avraham gave Shem/Malki Tzedek his tithes since Shem was a kohen (as explained above).
Mohel
The Midrash says, that Shem was the Mohel for Avraham Avinu and his son Yishmael.
Prophet
The Talmud says that the Divine Spirit was revealed in the court of Shem and announced that Tamar wasn’t guilty of adultery. In addition, Shem prophesized to Rivkah about the different characters of the twin boys in her womb.
Founded a Yeshivah
Shem and his great-grandson Ever established a yeshivah which functioned for several centuries. G-d willing, we will discuss this yeshivah in another article.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom UMevorach! May G-d swiftly obliterate our enemies and crush them to the ground so that we can have a truly peaceful Shabbat!
Copyright 2023 by Rabbi Aryeh Citron
